Display unit



April 23, 1940- J. s. M DONALD EJ97 306 DISPLAY UNIT Filed April 8, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

- ATTORNEYS Aprii 23, 3940. J. s. MacDONALD 2,197,806

. DISPLAY UNIT Filed April 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j gifl 57 I Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE 2,197,866 DISPLAY UNIT John Stuart MacDonald, Rochester, N. Y.

Application April 8, 1938, Serial'No; 200,965 I 3 Claims. (c1.211-'-72) Another object is the provision of such a display unit so designed and constructed that it will be automatically locked in erected position by the mere act of moving the main parts to erected t position, the locking means holding the unit against accidental collapse.

A further object is the provision of a display unit which, when in erected position, willprovide a stable base on which other articles may be 20 placed, said base preferably including an elevated platform or step.

To these and otherends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will hereinafter be more fully de- 25 scribed, the novel features being pointed out the claims at the end of the specification. In the drawings: Fig. l is a front elevation of adisplay unit constructed according to a preferred embodiment 80 of the present invention, in erectedposition; 9

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 4 is a perspective .view of the same; Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on the 35 line 5-5 of Fig. 3, illustrating features of the lock which holds the unit in erected position;

Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; I

Fig. '7 is a view of the display unit infiat or non- 40 erected form; s I v Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a modified form of display unit, in erected position;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation thereof; Fig. 10 is an inverted perspective view of a 45 fragment of the erected unit, showing the con struction of the locking device.

Fig. 11 is a view thereof in flat or non-erected position; i 50 Fig. 12 is a front elevation of still another modi fied form of construction, in erected position;

Fig. 13 is an end View thereof; Fig. 14 is a plan of the construction shown in Figs. 12 and 13, in fiat or collapsed form, and 65 Fig.'15 is a sectional view through one of the of thexm'ainor first sheet.

hinge joints of the sheet material from which the display unit is made.

The same reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts. Referring first to the preferred embodiment il- 5 lustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, there is provided a unit preferably 'f ormedyfrom only two separate pieces of suitable sheet material, such as fiber board, cardboard, boxboard, etc. The first or largerof these pieces. comprises two sections 2| and 22 10 hinged to each other about the score line 23.

Two other or secondary sections 24 and 25 are formed from the same piece, by cutting the ends 1 of the sections 24 and 25 free from the sections 2| and 22, inwardly from the marginal edges thereof, asplainly seen in Fig. 7, the section 24 remaining fastened to the section 2| along the .score line 26 which forms a hinge joint, the section remaining fastened to the section 22 along the score line 21 which'forms another hinge joint,

and thefsections' and 25 remaining fastened to each other on the hinge joint score line 28.

Thevarious score lines referred to above and hereafter may be either pressed scores, cut scores, or of any other suitable known form. If the sheet material berelatively thin, pressed scores may be used, and if the sheet material be relatively thick,- cut scores (cut partially but not entirely through the thickness of the sheet material) are preferably employed.

The second piece of sheet material forming the unit is a strip secured tomthe underside of one of the secondary sections of the first piece of sheet material. In the illustrative'embodiment here shown the second piece is secured to the under side of the section 24, .and comprises a central section 39 underlying the'section 24 and secured thereto in any suitable manner, such as staples, rivets, adhesive, etc., adhesive being preferred.

The strip of sheet material is longer than the 40 first mentioned piece of sheet material, from which the sections 2|, 22, 2d and 25*": are, made, lies substantially flat in one plane, and'the sections 30 and. 3I'of the second piece of sheet material also lierflat in one plane against the back surface When the device is to be erected, the sections 2| and'22 are grasped and bent around the hinge line 23 so as to lie at a sub stantial angle to each other, a right angle being preferred (but other angles being possible by varying the construction) and the action of bending up the sections 2| and 22 will at the same time automatically bend the sections 24 and 25 at angles to each other and to the sections 2| and 22, to form a step-like projection or platform in the interior angle between the sections 2| and 22. It is seen that sections 2|, 22, 24 and 25 form'app-roximately a parallelogram when viewedendwise as in Fig. 3 so that the secondary sections 24 and 25 do not in any Way interfere with bending the main sections 2| and 22 at different angles relatively to each other.

As the sections 2| and 22 are bent up, the'section 24 is moved farther and farther away from the plane of the section 22, andthis automatically bends down the sections or flaps 3| of the second piece of sheet material for these flaps can no longer remain in the plane of their body section 30,'andare forced downwardly by. contact of the overlying parts of the section 22 :Finally, when erection is completed, the flaps 3! form walls substantially closing the ends of the step-like projection or platform formed by the sections 24 and 25.

' According to one feature of thepresent invention, the end flaps 3| are utilized to lock the device in erected posititon and prevent accidental collapse thereof. This locking may be accomplished by causing the flaps 3| to abutagainst one or more surfaces of the sections 2| and .22, in locking or latching relation thereto. In the form here shown, the latching engagement takes place between the rear edge 33 of each flap 3| and the front surface of the section 2|, which section is for this purpose extended as.at 34 so as to cross the plane of the flaps 3| when the flaps are in erected position. I

It is seen that, assuming the unit is standing in the erected position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, it cannot collapse from this erected position without causing movement of the section 24 either backwardly or forwardly with respect to the section 22, for any change in the angle between the sections 2| and 22 will have the effect of moving the section 24 with relation to the section 22. Since the flaps 3| are mounted on the section 24, they must move backwardly or forwardly with the section 24. But the portion 34 at the bottom of the section 2 5 lies in the path of movement of the bottom end of the rear edge 33 of the flap 3 and prevents rearward movement of the flap 3|, thereby preventing rearward movement of the section 24 with relation to the section 22, and preventing collapse of the sections: 2| and 22 to their original flat condition. Similarly, if it be attempted to collapse the unit by folding the section 2| forwardly down onto the top of the section 22 this is prevented by reason of the forward upright edge of the flap 3| lying against the rear face of the section 25 just inside the end edge thereof, which prevents the forward movement of the flap 3| which would be required for such collapsing.

In this way, the flaps 3 I, when in effective locking posititon, prevent collapse of the display unit in any direction. Yet it is but the work of an instant to collapse the unit when it is desired to do so, by pressing the flaps 3| inwardly until they clear the portions 34 of the section 2 whereupon they can slide rearwardly past such portions 34 and the device can be collapsed to its original fiat form shown in Fig. '7. v,

According tothe preferred form of the present invention, resilient means is provided, tending to move the flaps 3| to locking position. While sep- V flaps.

arate resilient means, such as suitably arrangedrubber bands, springs, or the like, may in some instances be employed, it is ordinarily preferred that the resilient means be provided by the resiliency of the sheet material which makes up the parts 30 and 3|. If a cut score is used at the junction or hinge 32 between the parts 3!] and 3|, care is taken to allow sufficient thickness of material to remain so that such material has a springy or resilient effect. Hence, the resiliencyv of the material will tend to keep the flaps 3| in the same plane with the central portion 3|] between these When the unit is bent up from its flat condition to its erected condition, the overlying relation of the section 22 to the flaps 3| automatically bends these flaps downwardly out of the plane of the portion 30 as the erecting operation proceeds, and this downward bending is resisted by the inherent resilience of the material at the hinge joint 32, which resilience constantly tends to move the flaps 3| upwardly to their original position inthe same plane with the section 3|), Consequently, as soon as the erection proceeds sufficiently far so that the rear edges of the flaps 3| are brought just in front of the front surface of the portions 34, the resilient action immediately snaps the flaps 3| outwardly as far as they are permitted to go (the lower end of each flap contacting with the edge 33, of the section 22, to limit such outwardmovement), andthe locking action is thus efiective. The flaps 3| which form the ends of the step or platform 24, 25, etc., may be placed at any convenient or desired angle, whether vertical or oblique to the section 22. such as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5, is usually preferred.

When the device is erected, either of the walls or sections 2| and 22 may form the base of the device and the other of such walls will stand upright. -The article to be displayed, or a facsimile or dummy thereof, may be placed on the step or platform formed by the parts 24 and 25, oron any other suitable part of the device. If desired, one or more additional steps or platforms may be formed, in the angle between the parts 2| and 24, or in the angle between the parts 22 and 25, or in both such angles, or one or, morelarger'or smaller steps may be formed in the main angle between the parts H and 22 andin endwise relation to the step above described. The lock for holding the parts in erected position may be formed wholly or in part between a large step and a smaller step in endwise relation to each other, utilizing the same locking principles hereindisclosed. For purpose of illustration one additional step is here shown in the angle between the parts 2| and 24, this step being formed by the sections 4| and 42, the former of which is hinged to the section 2| by the score line 43, and the latter of which is hinged to the section 24 by the score line 44. The two sections 4| and 42 are hinged to each other at the score line 45.

Referring now to the modified form of construction shown in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, this modified construction embodies the same principles, the main difference being that the locking flaps 3| of the embodiment previously dis: closed are extended rearwardly as shown at 3|a, toproject a substantial distance on the opposite side of the plane of the section 2| when the device is erected, in order to provide a broader base and hold the display unit against accidentally tipping backwardly, when the section 22 is placed flat on a table, counter, or other support. On the other hand, if the section 22 is placed in up An oblique inclination,-

' right position with the section 2| on the table or counter, the unit will be supported by the ends of the rearward extensions 3|a .and by the remote edge of the section 2|, so that the section 2| will be supported at an angle to the top of the table or counter on which it is placed.

In order to adapt the parts to this extension 3|a of the locking flaps 3| the locking shoulders 34 of the previous; embodiment of the invention are reduced in size as shown at 34a in Figs. 10

"and 11, and a notch 3lb. is provided in the lock- 'ing flap 3|, tocooperate with the locking shoulder 34a when the parts'are erected. When in erected position, the front edge of the notch 3|b lies against the front surface of the locking lug or shoulder 34a, as shown especially in Figs. 9 and 10, to prevent rearward movement of the flap 3| with respect to the sections 2| and-22, and thus to preventcollapse of the device. Forward collapse is prevented as before, by contact of the front edge of the flap 3| with the rear surface of the section 25. 'The provision of a relatively small locking lug or shoulder 34a to enter the notch 3|b permits the rest of the edge 31 of the section 2| to extend in. a straight line from the junction of the edge 33 with the score line 23, up

to the score line- 26, so that the rest. of the flap 3| (above the top of the notch 3|b) may extend straight upwardly along this edge 31.

Except for the changes above mentioned, the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11 may be the same as thatiillustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, and

the" same reference numerals have been used in both embodiments for the corresponding parts.

Referring now to the modified embodiment il- I lustrated in Figs. 12 to 14, this also includes main sections 2| and 22, and secondary sections 24 and.

25, together with the same score lines as in the previous embodiments. 'The-main difference here is that the locking flaps 3|c, instead of bearing at their rear edges against the front faceof the section 2| or a. speciallocking shoulder or lug thereon; here bear against and interlock with notches 360 formed in the e ge 36 of the section 22. The locking flaps 3|c have projections or lugs 3|d to engage in these notches 360 when the displayunit is in erected position. As before, the resiliency of the hinge joint between the locking flaps 3|c and the parts on which they are mounted tends to swing these'fiaps 3lc outwardly so that as soon as the lugs 3ld are brought into alinement with the notches 360 during the erecting operation they will snap automatically into these notches to lock the parts in. erected position. 2

Except for the differences above mentioned, the parts of this embodiment may be the same as' those of the embodiments previously described,

and the same reference numerals have been used for corresponding parts.

Fig. 15 illustrates adetail of any one of the score lines or hinge joints, such as'the hinge joint line 23 between the sections 2| and 22. It is simply intended to illustrate a cut score through erected position. I

JOHN STUART MAcDONALD.

part of the thickness of a relatively thick or heavy piece of sheet material.

The sections 2| and 22 may be made rectangular, semi-circular, or of any other plain or fancy shape, without departing in any way from the present invention, and each of the steps or platforms (whether one or more be used) may be' of any desired shape or size.

-While certain embodiments of. the invention U have been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number of ways. to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: l. A collapsible and erectable unit including sheet material cut and scored to provide four wall sections hingedly connected to each other so that they may be moved from an approximately fiat collapsed position to an erected position forming a body of approximately rectangular outline when viewed from one end, a locking flap mounted on and hingedly connected to one of This application is therefore not said wall sections adjacent one edge thereof so that-said flap may form an end of said body when it is in'erected position, a portion of said flap single piece of sheeet material cut and scored to 'provide two main sections'hinged' to each other in claim 1, in which said and arranged to be moved from relatively flat position to erected position at a substantial angle to each other and two secondary sections cut from the main sections inwardly of the marginal edges thereof and hinged to the main sections and to each other and arranged to bemoved from .relatively fiat position lying approximately in the plane of said main sections to erected posi.

tion forming a step-likeprojection in the interior angle between said main sections when said main;

sections are moved to erected position, and a second piece of sheet material secured to the under side of one of said secondary sections and projecting materially beyond such section at both ends when said unit is in flat condition, the projecting ends of said second piece of sheet material bending down when saidunit is erected to form closed ends for said step-like projection and I having latching engagement with one of said main sections to hold all of said sections in 

